Florida man in Dunn County Court after crashing stolen semi tractor

By Cara L. Dempski

MENOMONIE — A 50-year-old Florida man was taken to Dunn County Jail after crashing a stolen semi outside Menomonie this past weekend.

Todd J. Fine of Sarasota, Florida, was arrested after stealing a semi from Break Thru Beverage Minnesota Wine and Spirits LLC of St. Paul, Minnesota. He attended a May 1 bond hearing where a $3,000 cash bond was set.

A Wisconsin State Trooper observed a semi tractor without a trailer near the east bound rest area in Dunn County on interstate 94 at approximately 4:35 a.m. April 29. The officer saw sparks underneath the tractor that seemed to be caused by something being dragged underneath.

The Trooper attempted to stop the vehicle to investigate the sparking, but the tractor exited the interstate at mile marker 45 and proceeded south on Dunn County Highway B. The driver of the tractor, Fine,  accelerated to 80 miles per hour in a 45 mile per hour zone and a pursuit ensued.

Fine increased his speed to 90 miles per hour and continued south on 610th Street, where he lost control and crashed approximately 1.5 miles south of State Highway 29 at 4:38 a.m.

The tractor came to rest on its roof in a tree line, and the driver was transported to Mayo Hospital-Menomonie to be treated for non-life threatening injuries before being released to the custody of the Dunn County Jail.

Todd J. Fine was arrested for fourth-offense OWI, felony fleeing, and operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent. According to the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access program, he has several prior charges of burglary and operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent from 2011 and 2012.

No further information was available prior to publication.